Derek Sivers Quotes

But the act of reading a book is really about you and what you get from it. All that matters is what you do with the ideas, no matter the source. Apply them to your own life in your own way. It was never about them. It’s about you.

Relax for the same result

Actions often have the opposite of the intended result.
People who try too hard to be liked are annoying.
People who try too hard to be attractive are repulsive.
People who try too hard to be enlightened are self-centered.
People who try too hard to be happy are miserable.

We think walls protect us from enemies, but walls are what create enemies in the first place.

You have a goal you’ve been putting off. You want to do it someday. You’ve been meaning to take real action on it, but could use more motivation. Let it go. It’s a bad goal. If it was a great goal, you would have jumped into action already. You wouldn’t wait. Nothing would stop you.

To enjoy your past is to live twice.
Nostalgia links your past and present.

Here’s how to live: Be a famous pioneer.

Here’s how to live: Do nothing.

If you’ve ever been confused or distracted, with too many options…
If you don’t finish what you start…
If you’re not with a person you love…
… then you’ve felt the problem.
The problem is a lack of commitment.

But I never again promised a customer that I could do something that was beyond my full control.

People make bad decisions because they felt they had to decide.
It would have been wiser to do nothing.

If you’re ever unsure what to prioritize, just ask your customers the open-ended question, “How can I best help you now?” Then focus on satisfying those requests.

Most problems are not about the real present moment.
They’re anxiety, worried that something bad might happen in the future.
They’re trauma, remembering something bad in the past.
But none of them are real.
If you stop and look around the room, and ask yourself if you have any actual problems right now, the answer is probably no.

Here’s how to live: Follow the great book.

Never forget that absolutely everything you do is for your customers. Make every decision — even decisions about whether to expand the business, raise money, or promote someone — according to what’s best for your customers.